Compass Key Service Dog Training

Our 4 original trainers: Gemma Soberano, David Burry, Ashley O’Hara, and Jennifer Kolar, all volunteered together at a non-profit service dog organization. As volunteers working with in-training service dogs in public, they received numerous requests from individuals wanting their own personal dogs trained. An idea began to develop to start a company with various types of dog training. In 2012, Compass Key (formerly PAWS Training Centers) locations began in Wilmington, NC with Gemma, Southeastern, PA, with David and Ashley (father-daughter team), and Seattle, WA with Jennifer. Although they had initially thought the majority of clients would want obedience training, they quickly realized the great need for service dog training for privately owned dogs. There were so many organizations that would breed dogs for service dog placement, but there was such a desire for clients to use their own pet dog they had already bonded with or have the option to select a dog breed for training. They met with many service dog trainers and clients to develop a one-of-a-kind comprehensive service dog training program to meet the needs of each unique client/dog team. In 2018, PAWS Training Centers rebranded with a new name: Compass Key, to better support the mission of providing "Compassionate direction for you and your dog"​. Our vision continues to spread throughout more locations of the country.